Storage bag with moisture emitting pad

ABSTRACT

An improved storage bag with moisture emitting pad is disclosed. The bag has a first outer panel, a second outer panel, and an inner panel constructed from plastic film, the panels all being connected together to form a storage bag with a first compartment and a second compartment. Located in the first compartment is a hydrated absorbent pad for emitting moisture vapor that is transmitted through the inner layer into the second compartment. The second compartment is for storing products requiring humidity conditioning. Either or both of the bag compartments could have an opening which could be equipped with a reclosable fastener.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an improved storage bag for containing productsthat require a humid environment within the bag. More particularly thestorage bag of the present invention provides two compartments, one forcontaining a moisture emitting pad and a second compartment forcontaining the product to be stored.

Many products such as tobacco, medical devices, horticulture, and somefood products need to be stored in a humid environment. Tobacco productsin particular need to be packaged and maintained in a controlledenvironment, that is, one that remains at a specific level of humiditywithin a given tolerance range.

When a package or bag for storing humidity sensitive products such astobacco is meant to be kept outside and therefore exposed to theconditions, of the environment the bag needs to be able to maintain acontrolled humidity level within its storage compartment for a extendedperiod of time when experiencing variations in the level of moisturevapor resulting from changes in the relative humidity of the outsideenvironment. To be effective at controlling the level of humidity withina storage bag, when exposed to outside humidity fluctuations found inmost parts of the United States as well as in many regions of the world,the bag must be able to compensate for humidity conditions not onlybelow the targeted level but, also conditions above the targeted level.Bags for storing products are normally exposed to these wide swings inambient humidity conditions only during their distribution from themanufacturing plant to the retail store because once the products reachthe retail store they are normally stored in an air conditioned space. Abag for storing humidity sensitive products, that is not meant to bekept outside and is therefore not exposed for long periods of time tothe outside humidity conditions of the environment only need to be ableto compensate for moderate humidity conditions with very littlevariation.

In the United States as well as many parts of the world inside humandwellings such as houses, retail stores, and most other encloseddwellings, as well as most forms of transportation there is typicallysome form of air conditioning in use at least during the warmer periodsof the year. During the cooler times of the year in most climates thehumidity level is naturally low, both inside dwellings and outside aswell. As a result of the use of air conditioning during warm times andthe natural tendency for low humidity in cool times, the averagerelative humidity level found in most living spaces is less than 50%which is below the level that most products such as tobacco require.Therefore, a bag for storing products that must be maintained at ahumidity level that is higher than the humidity level of itssurroundings environment need only be able to deal with the problem ofreplenishing the moisture in the bag that is lost to the dryersurroundings.

For a bag to be able to successfully transmit moisture into its storagecompartment for preserving a product such as tobacco the moisture mustbe transmitted at a slow controlled rate not to exceed a predeterminedhumidity level so that the compartment does not become over humidified.Inventions such as that of Tanski in U.S. Pat. No. 2,537,196 provides ahumidor pouch comprising a perforated inner layer that separates thetobacco in one compartment from moisten paper towels in a secondcompartment. The perforated inner layer allows the moisture to pass toorapidly from the wet paper to the tobacco causing the tobacco to becomeover humidified even to the point of becoming wet.

For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a low cost storage bagfor use in moderate humidity environments(preferably less than 50%relative humidity) that has the capability of replenishing moisturewithin its storage space that is lost to the surrounding environment.The storage bag must be able to transmit the moisture into its storagespace at a slow controlled rate not to exceed a predetermined humiditylevel so that the compartment does not become over humidified. Inaddition the bag should carry out these functions for an extended periodof time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a lowcost storage bag with the ability to create a humid environment withinits storage compartment for the preservation of humidity sensitiveproducts such as tobacco, medical devices, horticulture and certain foodproducts.

A further object of the bag of the present invention is to prevent theproduct being stored from becoming wet or over humidified even whenstored for long periods of time in moderate humidity conditions.

An even further object of the present invention is to maintain atargeted humidity level within the storage compartment of the bag for aextended period of time when exposed to moderate levels of relativehumidity like are normally found in human living spaces.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a storagebag with moisture emitting pad. The bag comprises a first outer panel, asecond outer panel and an inner panel all constructed from plastic film,the panels all being connected together to form a storage bag with afirst compartment and a second compartment. Located in the firstcompartment is a hydrated absorbent pad for emitting moisture vapor. Thesecond compartment is for storing products requiring humidityconditioning. A perimeter is formed around the first compartment byconnecting the inner panel to at least one of the outer panels at acontinuous seam thereby totally enclosing the moisture vapor emittingpad. A perimeter is formed around the second compartment by connectingthe second outer panel to the first outer panel at a continuous seamalong all but one portion of the perimeter which in turn creates a bagopening. The bag opening is utilized for introducing products into thestorage compartment of the bag and is then preferably closed off. Thefirst compartment could also have a gap in the continuous seam aroundits perimeter creating a bag opening in the first compartment.Therefore, the vapor emitting pad could be placed into the firstcompartment through the first bag opening and later closed off. Both bagopenings could have reclosable fasteners made into their openings so thecompartments could be selectively opened and closed making the storagebag reusable since the absorbent pad could be replaced when needed.

The storage bag of the present invention fulfills the need for a lowcost storage bag that can establish and maintain the proper humiditylevel when exposed to a dry to moderately humid environment andtherefore avoid over humidification or dehydration of the stored productby providing a bag with two compartments, one compartment for containinga hydrated absorbent pad for emitting moisture vapor and a secondcompartment for storing the product that requires a controlled humiditylevel. The inner panel between the two compartments is made of a plasticfilm with the physical and chemical properties required to control theflow of moisture vapor from the pad compartment to the storagecompartment to a low enough rate whereby over humidification does notoccur in the storage compartment. The two outer panels of the storagebag are made of a plastic film with the proper physical and chemicalproperties required to control the flow of moisture vapor out of bothcompartments of the bag into the environment so that the humidity levelin the storage compartment will not build to an excessive level.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention there isdescribed an improved storage bag in combination with a moistureemitting pad. The invention includes a bag having a first outer panel, asecond outer panel and an inner panel constructed from plastic film, thepanels all being connected together by substantially continuous seams toform a storage bag with a first compartment and a second compartment; afirst perimeter formed around the first compartment by the first outerpanel being connected to the inner panel at a continuous seam along allbut one portion of the first perimeter thereby creating a first bagmouth; a second perimeter formed around the second compartment by thesecond outer panel being connected to the inner panel at a continuousseam along all but one portion of the second perimeter thereby creatinga second bag mouth; hydrated pad means located in the first compartmentfor emitting moisture vapor, the first compartment being greater than95% relative humidity, whereby the moisture vapor has the ability toflow out of the first compartment without the ability for substantiallyany moisture vapor to flow into the first compartment; the first bagmouth being closeable by connecting the first outer panel to the innerpanel thereby totally enclosing the pad means the inner panel having amoisture vapor transmission rate relative to a moisture vaportransmission rate of the second panel whereby the flow of moisture vaporinto the second compartment from the first compartment relative to theflow of moisture vapor out of the second compartment into thesurrounding environment causes the relative humidity of the secondcompartment to reach a predetermined level when the storage bag is in asurrounding environment having a relative humidity that is lower thanthe relative humidity of the first compartment; the inner panel having amoisture vapor transmission rate in the range of about 0.3 to about 5.0grams/mil/24 hours/100 square inches; and the second outer panel havinga moisture vapor transmission rate in the range of about 0.3 to about5.0 grams/mil/24 hours/100 square inches.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention there isdescribed a storage bag in combination with a moisture emitting pad forhumidifying tobacco products. The storage bag includes a bag having afirst outer panel, a second outer panel, and an inner panel therebetweenconstructed from polymer film, the panels being connected together toform the storage bag with a first compartment and a second compartment,a moisture vapor emitting hydrated pad located in first the compartment,the first compartment being greater than 95% relative humidity, wherebythe moisture vapor has the ability to flow out of the first compartmentwithout the ability for substantially any moisture vapor to flow intothe first compartment; the inner panel having a moisture vaportransmission rate relative to the moisture vapor transmission rate ofthe second outer panel whereby the flow of moisture vapor into thesecond compartment from the first compartment relative to the flow ofmoisture vapor out of the second compartment into the surroundingenvironment causes the relative humidity of the second compartment to bemaintained between about 62% to about 78% when the storage bag ismaintained in a surrounding environment having a relative humidity inthe range between about 20% and about 60%; the inner panel formed from apolymer film in the range of about 14 mils. thick and having a moisturevapor transmission rate in the range of about 0.3 to about 5.0grams/mil/24 hours/100 square inches; and the second outer panel formedfrom a polymer film in the range of about 1-4 mils. thick and having amoisture vapor transmission rate in the range of about 0.3 to about 5.0grams/mil/24 hours/100 square inches.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention there isdescribed a storage bag in combination with a moisture emitting pad forhumidifying products stored therein. The invention includes a bag havinga first outer panel, a second outer panel, and an inner paneltherebetween constructed from plastic film, the panels being connectedtogether by seams to form a storage bag with a first compartment and asecond compartment; a moisture vapor emitting pad located in the firstcompartment; the inner panel and the second outer panel being formedfrom a plastic film having a moisture vapor transmission rate wherebythe flow of moisture vapor out of the second compartment into thesurrounding environment causes the relative humidity of the secondcompartment to reach a predetermined level when the storage bag ismaintained in a surrounding environment having a relative humidity thatis lower than the relative humidity within the first compartment; andthe moisture vapor transmission rate of the second outer panel beingsufficient whereby the second compartment relative humidity is affectedby the relative humidity of the surrounding environment, with therelative humidity of the second compartment being directly proportionalto, but not equal to, the relative humidity of the surroundingenvironment when the storage bag is at equilibrium.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention there isdescribed a storage bag in combination with a moisture emitting pad forhumidifying products stored therein. The combination includes a bagconstructed from polymer material forming a first compartment forstoring a product therein and a second compartment storing a moistureemitting pad therein, the bag including an outer panel of polymermaterial separating the first compartment from the surroundingenvironment and an inner panel of polymer material separating the firstcompartment from the second compartment, and the inner panel having amoisture vapor transmission rate relative to the moisture vaportransmission rate of the outer panel whereby the flow of moisture intothe first compartment from the second compartment relative to the flowof moisture out of the first compartment into the surroundingenvironment maintains the relative humidity of the first compartmentwithin a predetermined range higher than the relative humidity of thesurrounding environment and lower than the relative humidity in thesecond compartment.

Other objects, advantages and features will become more apparent withthe teaching of the principles of the invention in connection with thedisclosure of the preferred embodiments described in the specification,claims, and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partly cutaway perspective view of a first preferredembodiment of the bag of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partly cutaway, cross-section view of the bag of FIG. 1taken along lines 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of themoisture vapor emitting pad of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section view of the moisture emitting pad of FIG. 3taken along lines 4--4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a partly cutaway perspective view of a second preferredembodiment of the bag of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-section view of the bag of FIG. 5 taken along lines6--6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a partly cutaway perspective view of a third preferredembodiment of the bag of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross-section view of the bag of FIG. 7 taken along lines8--8 of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a cutaway view of a fourth preferred embodiment of the bag ofthe present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is shown thepreferred embodiment of the storage bag of the present inventiongenerally indicated by the numeral 10. Bag 10 has a first outer panel12, a second outer panel 14, and an inner panel 15 which are preferablymade from separate pieces of plastic film. First outer panel 12 isjoined to one side of inner panel 15 by side seams 16 and 18 and bybottom seam 20 to form a first compartment 12a. A second outer panel 14is joined to the other side of inner panel 15 by side seams 16 and 18and by bottom seam 20 to form a second compartment 14a. Side seams 16and 18 preferably intersect bottom seam 20 and top 21 perpendicularly tocreate a substantially rectangularly shaped bag. Although any shapeknown in the art could be utilized to make bag 10 of the presentinvention.

First outer panel 12 has a first top edge 12b which is not connected toinner panel 15 and second outer panel 14 has a second top edge 14b whichis not connected to inner panel 15. First top edge 12b is located atsubstantially the same distance from the bottom seam 20 of bag 10 as issecond top edge 14b. Although both first top edge 12a and second topedge 14a would not need to be located at the same distance from bottomseam 20 if desired.

Thus, a first opening 22a is formed between first outer panel 12 andinner panel 15 and a second opening 22b is formed between second outerpanel 14 and inner panel 15. Goods such as tobacco, medical,horticulture, and food products, or any other item requiring a humiditycontrolled storage space may be inserted into the inside of the secondcompartment 14a of bag 10 through opening 22b. Preferably, bag 10 isused to contain and store tobacco. The tobacco may be in the form ofcigars or cigarettes, or the tobacco may be in its raw form.

Located inside the first compartment 12a of bag 10 is a loosely heldhydrated absorbent pad 30 for emitting moisture vapor to preserve thegoods stored in the second compartment 14b of bag 10. Although it ispreferred that moisture vapor emitting pad 30 may be loosely containedor held in first compartment 12b and therefore be free to move therein,pad 30 could be connected to the panels forming first compartment 12a toprevent movement therein if desired. First compartment 12a is closed offby connecting first outer panel 12 to inner panel 15 along first topedge 12b thereby totally enclosing pad 30.

The first compartment 12a and second compartment 14a could havereclosable or resealable strips attached to their openings 12b and 14bthereby making bag 10 a reclosable bag. Any such flexible closure stripsfor use with packaging could be used with the bag of the presentinvention. Their are many known flexible closure strips in the art thatallow for selected opening and closing of the bags when needed. The twomost common types of closures used in the art use either matchedinterlocking plastic profiled fastener strips as shown U.S. Pat. No.3,338,285 or use resealable adhesive strips as shown in U.S. Pat. No.4,709,399. U.S. Pat. No. 3,338,285 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,709,399 arehereby incorporated by reference.

Inner layer 15 is connected at seam 26a to first outer panel 12 and tosecond outer panel 14. Preferably, inner layer 15 is connected along itssides 26c and 26d shown in FIG. 1 to side seams 16 and 18 of bag 10.However, if desired, inner layer 15 could be narrower than the width ofbag 10. Preferably seams 26a, 16, and 18 are continuous to the point ofbeing hermetic, that is being as is known in the art substantially airtight. Inner layer 15 is preferably made from a plastic film with amoisture vapor transmission rate that is greater that the moisture vaportransmission rate of the first and second outer layers 12 and 14.

Pad 30 for emitting moisture vapor could be made by hydrating aconventional absorbent pad, such absorbent pads are well known in theart and may be made from a variety of fluid absorbing materials. Pad 30may be made from manufactured or synthetic fibers, or natural fibers, ora combination thereof, either woven or non-woven. Preferably, theabsorbent material fibers of pad 30 are formed from cellulose materialssuch as paper or the like.

As is best shown in FIG. 3 preferably moisture vapor emitting pad 30 isgenerally rectangularly shaped with a first edge 31a, a second edge 31b,a third edge 31c, and a fourth edge 31d. Although pad 30 is preferablyrectangular any shape known in the art could be utilized to make pad 30of the present invention.

The moisture vapor emitting pad 30 comprises a hydrated cellulose innerbody 32 that has been hydrated by using preferably distilled water andthen is totally enclosed by a plastic covering 31. The plastic covering31 is formed by a first layer 34 of plastic film and a second layer 36of plastic film that are joined together along a continuous first seam37a at first edge 31a, a continuous second seam 37b at second edge 31b,a continuous third seam 37c at third edge 31c, and a continuous fourthseam 37d at forth edge 31d. Preferably seams 37a, 37b, 37c, and 37d arecontinuous to the point of being hermetic.

The moisture vapor emitting pad 30 has a first layer 34 that is madefrom a plastic film with a thickness that is preferably less than 0.004of inch and has a moisture vapor transmission rate that is greater thatthe moisture vapor transmission rate of the second layer 36. Although,both first layer 34 and second layer 36 could be made from plastic filmwith the exact same moisture vapor transmission rate. Moisture vaportransmission rate (MVTR) is also referred to in the art as water vaportransmission rate (WVTR) and the procedure for testing films is alsowell known as ASTM E96 (ASTM=American Society of Test Methods). It iswell known that MVTR varies with temperature and it should be understoodthat all values of MVTR found in this application were tested at 23degrees Centigrade. The appropriate units of measurement for moisturevapor transmission rate are gm-mil/100 sq. in./24 hr. that is, thenumber of grams of moisture transmitted through a film per mil(0.001inch) of thickness per 100 square inches of surface area per a 24 hourperiod. The moisture vapor transmission rate of a plastic film isdetermined by the physical properties and the chemical properties suchas its surface area, thickness, density, and amount of crystallinity.The moisture vapor transmission rate of a thermoplastic film is directlyproportional to its surface area and inversely proportional to itsthickness, density, and crystallinity. The moisture vapor transmissionrate for the first layer 34 is preferably greater than 1.0 gm-mil andless than 5.0 gm-mil/100 sq. in./24 hr. Films with moisture vaportransmission rates greater than 5 gm-mil/100 sq. in./24 hr. allowmoisture vapor to flow so rapidly out of the pad into the storagecompartment they have the potential for over humidifying the storedproduct as well as prematurely shortening the life of the pad. Themoisture vapor transmission rate for the second layer 36 is preferablyless than 1.0 gm-mil/100 sq. in./24 hr. Pad 30 is preferably positionedin first compartment 12a with the second layer 34 with the highermoisture vapor transmission properties facing towards the inner layer15. The pad 30 placed in this position will have more of a tendency totransmit moisture from pad 30 towards the second compartment 14a.

Although it is preferred, it is not necessary that the pad 30 be coveredwith plastic film because the pad utilized in the present invention iscontained in plastic film compartment 12aand will not come in directcontact with the goods contained in bag 10. Thus, inexpensive pads 30made from absorbent materials having no plastic film cover attachedthereto may be used in the bag 10 of the present invention withoutwetting the goods contained in bag 10. When using the preferredembodiment of pad 30 the film layers 34 and 36 provide additionalopportunity for controlling the flow of moisture vapor from the pad 30into the second compartment 14a of bag 10.

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 illustrates a second preferred embodiment of thestorage bag of the present invention, wherein features of the bagcorresponding to those of the previously described embodiment aredesignated by like reference numerals in the one-hundred series. Bag 110has a first outer panel 112 which is preferably made from a separatepiece of plastic film. Bag 110 has a second outer panel 114 and a innerpanel 115 which are made from the same piece of plastic film. Firstouter panel 112 is joined to the inner panel 115 by side seams 116 and118 and to the surface of the first outer panel 112 at or near bottomfold 120 by seam 126a to form a first compartment 112a. A secondcompartment 114a is formed by joining the second outer panel 114 to thefirst outer panel 112 by side seams 116 and 118 and by bottom fold 120.Side seams 116 and 118 preferably intersect bottom fold 120 and top 121perpendicularly to create a substantially rectangularly shaped bag.Although any shape known in the art could be utilized to make bag 110 ofthe present invention.

First outer panel 112 has a first top edge 112b and second outer panel114 has a second top edge 114b which is not connected to inner panel115. First top edge 112b is not located the same distance from thebottom fold 120 of bag 110 as is second top edge 114b. Although bothfirst top edge 112a and second top edge 114a could be located at thesame distance from bottom fold 120 if desired.

Thus, an opening 122b is formed between first outer panel 112 and secondouter panel 114. Goods such as tobacco, medical devices, food products,horticulture products, or any other item requiring a humidity controlledstorage space may be inserted into the inside of the second compartment114a of bag 110 through opening 122b. Preferably, bag 110 is used tocontain and store tobacco. The tobacco may be in the form of cigars orcigarettes, or the tobacco may be in its raw form.

Located inside the first compartment 112a of bag 110 is a loosely heldhydrated absorbent pad 130 for emitting moisture vapor to preserve thegoods stored in the second compartment 114a of bag 110. Although it ispreferred that fluid absorbing pad 130 may be loosely contained or heldin first compartment 112a and therefore be free to move therein, pad 130could be connected to the panels forming first compartment 112a toprevent movement therein if desired. First compartment 112a is closedoff at seam 126b by connecting first panel 112 to inner panel 115 alongfirst top edge 112b thereby totally enclosing pad 130. Preferably seams126a, 126b, 116, and 118 are continuous to the point of being hermetic.By using distilled water as the hydrator and enclosing the moistureemitting pad in a hermetically sealed compartment funguses such as moldand mildew are unlikely to form an the pad 130 such as with the priorart of Tanski. Although, the preferred method of controlling fungusgrowth in bag 110 is the totally enclosing of pad 130 in firstcompartment 112 as described above other fungus control techniques arewithin the purview of the present invention such as the use offungicidal reagents. The fungicidal reagents can be incorporated intothe films that produce the panels of the bag or pad as well as into theabsorbent materials that make up the pad.

Shown in FIG. 5, inner panel 115 is connected to the surface of thefirst outer panel 112 along the continuous seam 126a that issubstantially perpendicular to sides 126c and 126d of bag 110 with seam126a spanning continuously between side seams 116 and 118. Preferably,inner panel 115 is connected to the sides 126c and 126d along continuousside seams 116 and 118 of bag 110. However, if desired, inner panel 115could be narrower than the width of bag 110. Inner panel 115 ispreferably made from a plastic film with a moisture vapor transmissionrate that is greater that the moisture vapor transmission rate of thefirst outer panel 112. The moisture vapor transmission rate for theinner panel 115 is preferably greater than 0.9 gm-mil/100 sq. in./24 hr.but less than 3.0 gm-mil/100 sq. in./24 hr. when tested as per ASTM E96.Preferably inner panel 115 is less than 0.004 of an inch in thickness.More preferably inner panel 115 is made from a conventional film gradelow density polyethylene that is between 0.0015 and 0.003 of an inchthick.

In FIG. 5 and 6, seam 126a is shown connected to first outer panel 112 ashort distance from the bottom fold 120 of bag 110. If desired, seam126a could be located a greater distance from the bottom fold 120 thanshown in FIG. 5 and 6. Furthermore, if desired, seam 126acould belocated adjacent to bottom fold 120.

Pad 130 for emitting moisture vapor is made by hydrating a conventionalabsorbent pad such absorbent pads are well known in the art and may bemade from a variety of fluid absorbing materials. Pad 130 may be madefrom manufactured or synthetic fibers, or natural fibers, or acombination thereof, either woven or non-woven, which has been hydrated.Preferably, the absorbent material fibers of pad 130 are formed fromcellulose materials such as paper or the like.

FIG. 7 illustrates a third preferred embodiment of the storage bag ofthe present invention, wherein features of the bag corresponding tothose of the previously described embodiment are designated by likereference numerals in the two-hundred series. Bag 210 has a first outerpanel 212 and a second outer panel 214 which are preferably made fromthe same piece of plastic film and an inner panel 215 which is made froma separate piece of plastic film. A first compartment is formed byjoining the inner layer 215 to the surface of the first outer panel 212at a first continuous seam 226a and to the surface of the second outerpanel 214 at a second continuous seam 226b and at continuous side seams216 and 218. Seams 226a and 226b span continuously between side seams216 and 218 and are perpendicular to sides 226c and 226d. Preferablyfirst seam 226a that joins first outer panel 212a to inner panel 215 islocated at or near a first top edge 212b of first outer panel 212. Alsopreferably second seam 226b that joins second outer panel 214a to innerpanel 215 is located at or near a second top edge 214b of first outerpanel 214. Inner panel 215 being joined to the first outer panel 212 andthe second outer panel 214 at side seams 216 and 218 thereby forms atotally enclosed first compartment 212a. Preferably seams 226a, 226b,216, and 218 are continuous to the point of being hermetic. A secondcompartment 214a is formed by joining the second outer panel 214 to thefirst outer panel 212 by side seams 216 and 218 and by bottom fold 220.At the top 222 of compartment 214a a top opening 222b is formed in bag210 between first outer panel 212 and second outer panel 214.

Located in the second compartment 212a is moisture vapor emitting pad230. Pad 230 for emitting moisture vapor is made by hydrating aconventional absorbent pad, such absorbent pads are well known in theart and may be made from a variety of fluid absorbing materials. Pad 230may be made from manufactured or synthetic fibers, or natural fibers, ora combination thereof, either woven or non-woven, which has beenhydrated. Preferably, the absorbent material fibers of pad 230 areformed from cellulose materials such as paper or the like.

Pad 230 as shown in FIG. 7 is large enough to fill substantially all thespace of first compartment 212a so as to substantially surround thesecond compartment 214a and therefore substantially surround the productstored within second compartment 214a. Since pad 230 substantiallysurrounds the stored product and is made from preferably cellulose andthe like which is also a good material to act as a protective padding,bag 210 could also provide the additional benefit of cushioning thestored product.

FIG. 9 illustrates a fourth preferred embodiment of the storage bag ofthe present invention, wherein features of the bag corresponding tothose of the previously described embodiment are designated by likereference numerals in the three-hundred series. Bag 310 has a firstouter panel 312 and a second outer panel 314 which are preferably madefrom the same piece of plastic film and an inner panel 315 which is madefrom a separate piece of plastic film. A first compartment is formed byjoining the inner panel 315 to the first outer panel at side seams 316and 318(not shown) and at or near bottom fold 320 by seam 326a to form afirst compartment 312a. A second compartment 314a is formed by joiningthe second outer panel 314 to the first outer panel 312 by side seams316 and 318 and by bottom fold 320. Thus, an opening 322b is formed inbag 310 between first outer panel 312 and second outer panel 314.

Located in the second compartment 312a is moisture vapor emitting pad330. Pad 330 for emitting moisture vapor is made by hydrating aconventional absorbent pad, such absorbent pads are well known in theart and may be made from a variety of fluid absorbing materials. Pad 330may be made from manufactured or synthetic fibers, or natural fibers, ora combination thereof, either woven or non-woven, which has beenhydrated. Preferably, the absorbent material fibers of pad 330 areformed from cellulose materials such as paper or the like. Cigars 50 areshown inside of the second compartment 314a of bag 310.

Shown in FIG. 9 is a flexible plastic profiled reclosable fastener stripassembly 40 attached to bag 310 at opening 322b The fastener stripassembly 40 comprises a male profile strip 42 and a female profile strip44 that are shown in FIG. 9 to be interlocked. Fastener strip 40 can beselectively opened and reclosed thereby making the second compartment ofbag 10 reclosable.

Also shown in FIG. 9 are the directions of flow of moisture vapor in andout of bag 310. Moisture vapor released from pad 330 fills the firstcompartment 312a to create an environment with a relative humidity levelof preferably greater than 95%. The first flow 51 of moisture vapor willoccur between the first compartment 312a and the second compartment 314aof bag 310 through inner layer 315 as a result of the humidity level inthe second compartment 314a being well below the humidity level (95%plus) of the first compartment 312a The relative humidity of the secondcompartment 314a will probably begin at ambient conditions (40 to 50%)or at the targeted condition required of the particular product beingstored. In the case of tobacco the target is about 70% relative humidityat 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Since the air conditioned environmentsurrounding bag 310 will normally be below 50% relative humidity, asecond flow 52 of moisture vapor will occur from the first compartment312a through the first outer layer 312 into the surrounding environment.The rate of the first flow 51 of moisture vapor from the firstcompartment 312a into the second compartment 314a could be less than,greater than, or equal to the rate of the second flow 52 of moisturevapor from the first compartment 312a into the environment outside bag310. This is because the barrier resisting first flow 51 between thefirst compartment 312a and the second compartment 314a is determined bythe moisture vapor transmission properties of the inner panel 315 whichcan be greater than, less than, or equal to the moisture vaportransmission properties of the first outer 312 which creates the barrierto second flow 52 between the first compartment 214a and the surroundingenvironment. Preferably the rate of the first flow 51 of moisture vaporfrom the first compartment 312a into the second compartment 314a wouldbe greater than the rate of the second flow 52 of moisture vapor fromthe first compartment 312a into the environment outside bag 310.

The second compartment 314a has a third flow 53 of moisture vapor thatoccurs from the second compartment 314a through second outer panel 314into the surrounding environment. The rate of the third flow 53 ofmoisture vapor can be less than, greater than, or equal to the rate ofthe second flow 52 of moisture vapor because the moisture vapor barriertransmission properties of the second outer panel 314 can be greaterthan, less than, or equal to the moisture vapor barrier transmissionproperties of the inner panel 315. The relative humidity level withinthe second compartment 314 rises as more moisture passes into the secondcompartment 314a from the first compartment 312a than passes from thesecond compartment 314a into the surrounding environment. This occursbecause the relative humidity differential between the first compartment312a and the second compartment 314a is greater than the humiditydifferential between the second compartment 314a and the surroundingenvironment.

When bag 310 is designed so that the second outer layer 314 and theinner layer 315 have the same exact moisture vapor transmissionproperties, that is a film with the same chemical and physicalproperties, the relative humidity in the second compartment 314a willcontinue to increase until it reaches the midpoint between the ambienthumidity outside the bag and the humidity inside the first compartment312a. This occurs because the natural driving force(the relativehumidity differential) causing moisture to flow between the firstcompartment 312a and the second compartment 314a and the resistance tothe flow (moisture vapor transmission barrier properties) are identical.

It is in the purview of the present invention to create bags whereby thestorage compartment humidity level will either lead or lag the midpointof the difference of the relative humidity differential between themoisture emitting compartment and the storage compartment by varying themoisture vapor transmission properties of the inner and outer panels ofthe bag of the invention. This will result in a relative humidity levelwithin the storage compartment that is either greater than or less thanthe midpoint between the level of relative humidity inside thecompartment containing the moisture emitting pad and the surroundings.Following is an explanation of two experiments that prove the abovestated theory.

Two sample bags were prepared and tested to prove that the humidityinside the storage compartment of the bag of the present invention couldbe maintained at a targeted level within a reasonable range. The firstbag labeled Bag Sample No. 1 was tracked over a thirty six day periodwhereby the relative humidity of the first compartment, the secondcompartment, and the ambient conditions were recorded. Bag Sample No. 1was constructed according to FIG. 1 and 2 with a targeted relativehumidity in the storage compartment of 65%. The first outer panel of BagSample No. 1 was constructed from a two layer high density polyethylenefilm with a thickness of 0.003 inch and with a moisture vaportransmission rate of approximately 0.3 gm-mil/100 sq. in./24 hr.resulting in a MVTR of the first outer layer of about 0.1 gm-mil/100 sq.in./24 hr. as approximated by the relationship of MVTR divided by thethickness. The first outer panel was made by the blown extrusion processand the two layers were adhesively connected together by a laminationprocess. Both the blown film process and the adhesive lamination processare well known in the art. The first outer panel is preferably made froma substantially higher moisture barrier film than the other panels ofthe bag as to minimize the loss of moisture from the pad directly intothe surroundings whereby the life of the pad and therefore the bag arenot prematurely shortened. The inner panel and the second outer panelwere both constructed from a monolayer low density polyethylene blownfilm with a thickness of 0.003 inch and a moisture vapor transmissionrate of approximately 1.2 gm-mil/100 sq. in./24 hr resulting in anapproximate MVTR for each panel of 0.4 gm/100 sq. in./24 hr.

The tests of both Bag Samples were conducted in Mobile, Ala. duringFebruary and March inside a residential dwelling. The data for both BagSamples No. 1 and 2 have been divided into five categories. The firstcategory is titled DAY and is the day (in consecutive order) the datawas recorded. The second category is titled 1ST COMP. RH and is thepercent relative humidity of the first compartment. The third categoryis titled 2ND COMP. RH and is the percent relative humidity of thesecond compartment. The fourth category is titled AMBIENT RH and is thepercent relative humidity of the conditions surrounding the bag. Thefifth category is titled RH DELTA and is calculated according to thefollowing formula;

    RH DELTA= (RH2-RHA)-(RH1-RH2)!

whereby; RH1=relative humidity of the first compartment

RH2=relative humidity of the second compartment

RHA=relative humidity of the ambient conditions

The results for Bag Sample No. 1 are shown numerically in Table 1 belowand graphically in FIG. 9A.

                  TABLE 1    ______________________________________         1ST COMP. RH                     2ND COMP. RH AMBIENT RH                                           RH    DAY  (Percent)   (Percent)    (Percent)                                           DELTA    ______________________________________    1    86          63           50       -10    2    97          67           48       -11    3    98          67           41       -5    4    98          66           34       0    5    98          67           40       -4    6    98          69           41       -1    7    98          65           32       0    8    98          65           32       0    9    98          63           29       -1    10   98          62           29       -3    11   98          63           30       -2    12   98          63           31       -3    13   98          64           32       -2    14   98          65           35       -3    15   98          67           37       -1    16   98          67           37       -1    17   98          66           35       -1    18   98          64           30       0    19   98          64           31       -1    20   98          63           30       -2    21   98          64           31       -1    22   98          64           32       -2    23   98          66           37       -3    24   98          68           41       -3    25   98          68           43       -5    26   98          70           48       -6    27   98          68           42       -4    28   98          73           52       -4    29   98          73           43       5    30   98          71           40       4    31   98          69           36       4    32   98          68           36       2    33   98          69           41       -1    34   98          69           41       -1    35   98          70           41       1    36   98          74           45       5    ______________________________________

Table 1 and the graphs of FIG. 9A show that the relative humidity of thefirst compartment was a constant 98% throughout the test except duringthe initial start-up period of the first two days. The ambientconditions outside Bag Sample No. 1 varied from a low of 29% to a highof 52% with a mean of 36.2 and standard deviation of 6.0 during days 8through 35 which it will be seen later is the time that Sample Bag No.2was simultaneously tested along with Bag Sample No. 1 not including thestart-up period of both bag samples. The second compartment is shown tohave varied from 62 to 74% relative humidity during the time betweendays 8 through 35 with a mean of 66.5 and a standard deviation of 3.0.The value for Delta RH as calculated varied from -6 to +5 with a mean of-1.3 and a standard deviation of 2.5 during the same period. The testdata shows that the bag of the present invention has the ability tomaintain a targeted relative humidity over an extended period of timewhereby the variation in the relative humidity of the second compartmentwas dampened to half the variation of the ambient conditions. Thisdampening the variation of the relative humidity within the secondcompartment can be contributed to the natural tendency of the secondcompartment relative humidity to seek the half-way or midpoint betweenthe relative humidity of the first compartment and the ambientconditions. The relative humidity standard deviations of the secondcompartment (3.0) and of the ambient conditions (6.0) show this halvingphenomenon as do the values of Delta RH. The values for Delta RH showthis halving tendency because they remain very close to zero. throughoutthe test. This is important because the near zero values of Delta RHshow that the difference between the relative humidity variation of thesecond compartment versus the ambient conditions and the relativehumidity variation of the first compartment versus the secondcompartment are substantially equal. As shown in FIG. 9A this occurswhen the line graph of the relative humidity of the second compartmentis half way between the line graph of the relative humidity of the firstcompartment and the ambient conditions. Bag Sample No. 1 has thisnatural tendency to seek the half way point shown in the graphs of FIG.9A because the moisture vapor transmission rate properties of the innerpanel between the first and second compartments is the same as that ofthe second outer panel between the second compartment and thesurroundings. That is the flow of moisture from the first compartmentthat contains the hydrated pad through the inner panel into the dryerstorage space of the second compartment is substantially equal to theflow of moisture vapor from the second compartment to the even dryersurroundings.

Bag Sample No.2 was tracked over a thirty three day period whereby therelative humidity of the first compartment, the second compartment, andthe ambient conditions were recorded. Bag Sample No.2 was constructedaccording to FIG. 1 and 2 with a targeted relative humidity in thestorage compartment of 70%. The first outer panel of Bag Sample No.2 wasconstructed from a 0.003 inch thick two layer high density polyethylenefilm with a moisture vapor transmission rate of 0.3 gm-mil/100 sq in./24hr resulting in a MVTR for the panel of about 0.1 gm/100 sq. in./24 hr.As with the first sample the film was made by the blown extrusionprocess and the two layers were adhesively connected together by alamination process. The inner panel was constructed from a 0.0015 inchthick monolayer low density polyethylene blown film with a moisturevapor transmission rate of 1.2 gm-mil/100 sq in./24 hr resulting in aMVTR for the panel of 0.8 gm/100 sq. in./24 hr. The second outer panelis constructed from the same monolayer low density polyethylene blownfilm, but differs from that of the first sample in that the panel istwice as thick and therefore has substantially two times the moisturevapor barrier properties as that of the inner panel, that isapproximately 0.4 gm/day/100 sq in. The results for Bag Sample No.2,which are arranged in the same five categories as was described abovefor Bag Sample No. 1, are shown numerically in Table 2 below andgraphically in FIG. 9B.

    ______________________________________         1ST COMP. RH                     2ND COMP. RH AMBIENT RH                                           RH    DAY  (Percent)   (Percent)    (Percent)                                           DELTA    ______________________________________    1    76          48           37       -17    2    87          55           34       -11    3    95          64           40       -7    4    96          68           41       -1    5    98          65           32       0    6    98          65           32       0    7    98          64           29       1    8    98          64           29       1    9    98          64           30       0    10   98          65           31       1    11   98          66           32       2    12   98          67           35       1    13   98          69           37       3    14   98          69           37       3    15   98          69           33       7    16   98          67           30       6    17   98          67           31       5    18   98          66           30       4    19   98          67           31       5    20   98          68           32       6    21   98          69           38       2    22   98          70           41       1    23   98          71           43       1    24   98          74           48       2    25   98          73           42       6    26   98          76           52       2    27   98          77           44       12    28   98          76           40       14    29   98          72           36       10    30   98          71           36       8    31   98          72           41       5    32   98          72           41       5    33   98          73           41       7    ______________________________________

Table 1 and the graphs of FIG. 9B show that the relative humidity of thefirst compartment was a constant 98% throughout the test except duringthe initial start-up period of the first four days. The ambientconditions outside Bag Sample No.2 varied from a low of 29% to a high of52% with a mean of 36.2 and standard deviation of 6.0 during days 6through 33 which coincides exactly with the testing of the first bagsample. The second compartment is shown to have varied from 64 to 78%relative humidity during the time between days 6 through 33 with a meanof 69 and a standard deviation of 3.7. The values for Delta RH ascalculated varied from 0 to +14 with a mean of 3.8 and a standarddeviation of 3.7 during the same period. The test data of Bag Sample No.2 shows that the bag of the present invention has the ability tomaintain a targeted relative humidity over an extended period of timewhereby the variation in the relative humidity of the second compartmentwas dampened to 61.7% of the variation of the ambient conditions asindicated by the ratio of the relative humidity standard deviation ofthe second compartment (3.7) and of the ambient conditions (6.0). Thislevel of dampening of the variation of the relative humidity within thesecond compartment is substantially different than was found in the testof Bag Sample No. 1 and can be contributed to the imbalance between themoisture vapor barrier properties of the inner panel and the secondouter panel. The values for Delta RH show this same difference becausethey no longer remain as close to zero. This result is of particularimportance because the values of Delta RH for Bag Sample No.2 show thatthe difference between the relative humidity variation of the secondcompartment versus the ambient conditions and the relative humidityvariation of the first compartment versus the second compartment aresubstantially higher than Bag Sample No. 1 when both were exposed to thesame ambient conditions. As shown in FIG. 9B the line graph of therelative humidity of the second compartment is substantially greaterthan half way between the line graph of the relative humidity of thefirst compartment and the ambient conditions. The second compartment ofBag Sample No.2 has this natural tendency to seek a point of relativehumidity greater than the half-way point between the relative humidityof the first compartment and the surroundings as shown in the graphs ofFIG. 9B because the moisture vapor transmission properties of the innerpanel between the first and second compartments is now half that of thesecond outer panel between the second compartment and the surroundings.Therefore, the flow of moisture from the first compartment that containsthe hydrated pad through the inner panel into the dryer storage space ofthe second compartment is substantially greater (23% greater) than theflow of moisture vapor from the second compartment to the even dryersurroundings resulting in the storage compartment reaching andmaintaining a substantially higher relative humidity level than thefirst bag sample when both were exposed to the same ambient conditions.

It has been shown by the teachings of the present invention that astorage bag can be designed to maintain a predetermined humidity levelwithin its storage compartment by utilizing a moisture emitting padplaced in an enclosure, whereby the bag with pad has the ability toregulate the flow of moisture to the storage compartment in relationshipto the flow of moisture out of the storage compartment into thesurroundings so as to avoid over humidification or dehydration of thestorage compartment when exposed to moderate humidity conditions.

The bags and film of the invention are constructed from plastic filmwell known in the art. Preferably, the bags or pad enclosures of theinvention are constructed from flexible thermoplastic film such aspolyvinylidene chloride, polyethylene, polyethylene copolymers(ethylenevinyl acetate),polyamide, polypropylene, and the like. A particularlypreferred thermoplastic film is 0.001 to 0.004 of an inch thickpolyethylene. Also cellulosic films could also be utilized to make thebags or pad enclosures of the invention.

The bags and film of the invention may be constructed by any method ormethods known in the art. A preferred method of joining panels 12, 14,15, or 112, 114, 115 or 212, 214, 215, or 312, 314, 315 is by heatsealing, but other known methods could also be used such as the use ofadhesives. Furthermore, the bags and pads of the invention may be madein any desired shape to also include side or bottom gussets as is wellknown in the art.

Many of the elements of the various embodiments of the present inventioncould be interchanged with one another such as pad 30 could beinterchanged with pad 130 or 330 or any of the pads could beinterchanged with one another except 230 due to its larger size.Therefore, many combinations and substitutions are possible as is madeapparent from the teachings of my invention. Accordingly, the scope ofmy invention should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated,but by the following appended claims and their legal equivalent.

What is claimed is:
 1. An improved storage bag in combination with a moisture emitting pad comprising:a. a bag having a first outer panel, a second outer panel and an inner panel constructed from plastic film, said panels all being connected together by substantially continuous seams to form a storage bag with a first compartment and a second compartment; b. a first perimeter formed around said first compartment by said first outer panel being connected to said inner panel at a continuous seam along all but one portion of said first perimeter thereby creating a first bag mouth; c. a second perimeter formed around said second compartment by said second outer panel being connected to said inner panel at a continuous seam along all but one portion of said second perimeter thereby creating a second bag mouth; d. hydrated pad means located in said first compartment for emitting moisture vapor, said first compartment being greater than 95% relative humidity, whereby said moisture vapor has the ability to flow out of said first compartment without the ability for substantially any moisture vapor to flow into said first compartment; e. said first bag mouth being closeable by connecting said first outer panel to said inner panel thereby totally enclosing said pad means; f. said inner panel having a moisture vapor transmission rate relative to a moisture vapor transmission rate of said second panel whereby the flow of moisture vapor into said second compartment from said first compartment relative to the flow of moisture vapor out of said second compartment into the surrounding environment causes the relative humidity of said second compartment to reach a predetermined level when said storage bag is in a surrounding environment having a relative humidity that is lower than said relative humidity of said first compartment; g. said inner panel having a moisture vapor transmission rate in the range of about 0.3 to about 5.0, grams/mil/24 hours/100 square inches; and h. said second outer panel having a moisture vapor transmission rate in the range of about 0.3 to about 5.0 grams/mil/24 hours/100 square inches.
 2. An improved storage bag as in claim 1 wherein said hydrated pad means is made from a distilled material that has been hydrated by distilled water.
 3. An improved storage bag as in claim 1 wherein said hydrated pad means is covered in a hermetically sealed plastic enclosure.
 4. An improved storage bag as in claim 1 wherein said inner panel is made from a film that has a moisture vapor transmission rate of between 0.3 to 3.0 gm/mil 100 sq. in./24 hr. at 23 degrees Centigrade.
 5. An improved storage bag as in claim 1 wherein one of said outer panels is made from a film that has a moisture vapor transmission rate of less than 1.0 gm-mil/100 sq. in./24 hr. at 23 degrees Centigrade.
 6. An improved storage bag as in claim 1 further comprising a flexible reclosable fastener strip means made into the opening of at least one of said compartments thereby making said bag reclosable.
 7. An improved storage bag as in claim 1 wherein said hydrated pad means is secured to one of said panels that forms said first compartment.
 8. The storage bag of claim 1, wherein the moisture vapor transmission rate of said inner panel is greater than the moisture vapor transmission rate of said second outer panel.
 9. The storage bag of claim 1, wherein the moisture vapor transmission rate of said inner panel is about equal to the moisture vapor transmission rate of said second outer panel.
 10. The storage bag of claim 1, wherein the moisture vapor transmission rate of said inner panel and said second outer panel is in the range of about 0.8 to about 3.0 grams/mil/24 hours/100 square inches.
 11. The storage bag of claim 10, wherein said first bag mouth is closed off by a non-operable seam formed between said first outer panel and said inner panel.
 12. The storage bag of claim 1, wherein said hydrated pad means is substantially free of a salt solution.
 13. A storage bag in combination with a moisture emitting pad for humidifying tobacco products, said storage bag comprising:a. a bag having a first outer panel, a second outer panel, and an inner panel therebetween constructed from polymer film, said panels being connected together to form said storage bag with a first compartment and a second compartment; b. a moisture vapor emitting hydrated pad located in first said compartment, said first compartment being greater than 95% relative humidity, whereby said moisture vapor has the ability to flow out of said first compartment without the ability for substantially any moisture vapor to flow into said first compartment; c. said inner panel having a moisture vapor transmission rate relative to the moisture vapor transmission rate of said second outer panel whereby the flow of moisture vapor into said second compartment from said first compartment relative to the flow of moisture vapor out of said second compartment into the surrounding environment causes the relative humidity of said second compartment to be maintained between about 62% to about 78% when said storage bag is maintained in a surrounding environment having a relative humidity in the range between about 20% and about 60%; d. said inner panel formed from a polymer film in the range of about 1-4 mils. thick and having a moisture vapor transmission rate in the range of about 0.3 to about 5.0 grams/mil/24 hours/100 square inches; and e. said second outer panel formed from a polymer film in the range of about 1-4 mils. thick and having a moisture vapor transmission rate in the range of about 0.3 to about 5.0 grams/mil/24 hours/100 square inches.
 14. The storage bag of claim 13, further including a first substantially continuous seam formed around at least a portion of said first compartment by said first outer panel being connected to said inner panel along all but one portion of said first outer panel and said inner panel thereby creating a first bag mouth.
 15. The storage bag of claim 14, wherein said first bag mouth is closed off thereby totally enclosing said pad.
 16. The storage bag of claim 14, wherein said first bag mouth is closed off by a substantially continuous non-operable seam.
 17. The storage bag of claim 14, wherein said first bag mouth is closed off by a recloseable seal.
 18. The storage bag of claim 13, further including a second substantially continuous seam formed around said second compartment by said second outer panel being connected to said inner panel along all but one portion of said second outer panel and said inner panel thereby creating a second bag mouth.
 19. The storage bag of claim 18, wherein said second bag mouth is closed off by a recloseable seal.
 20. The storage bag of claim 13, wherein said panels are connected together about hermetic seams.
 21. The storage bag of claim 13, wherein said hydrated pad is made from a material that has been treated with an anti-microbial agent.
 22. The storage bag of claim 13, wherein said hydrated pad is secured to one of said panels that form said first compartment.
 23. The storage bag of claim 13, wherein said polymer film comprises polyethylene film.
 24. The storage bag of claim 13, wherein the moisture vapor transmission rate of said inner panel is greater than the moisture vapor transmission rate of said second outer panel.
 25. The storage bag of claim 13, wherein the moisture vapor transmission rate of said inner panel is equal to or less than the moisture vapor transmission rate of said second outer panel.
 26. The storage bag of claim 13, wherein said pad is hydrated with water.
 27. The storage bag of claim 13, wherein said pad is substantially free of a salt solution.
 28. The storage bag of claim 13, wherein the moisture vapor transmission rate of said inner panel is in the range of about 0.8 to about 3.0 grams/mil/24 hours/100 square inches.
 29. The storage bag of claim 13, wherein the moisture vapor transmission rate of said second outer panel is in the range of about 0.8 to about 3.0 grams/mil/24 hours/100 square inches.
 30. A storage bag in combination with a moisture emitting pad for humidifying products stored therein, comprising:a. a bag having a first outer panel, a second outer panel, and an inner panel therebetween constructed from plastic film, said panels being connected together by seams to form a storage bag with a first compartment and a second compartment; b. a moisture vapor emitting pad located in said first compartment; c. said inner panel and said second outer panel being formed from a plastic film having a moisture vapor transmission rate whereby the flow of moisture vapor out of said second compartment into the surrounding environment causes the relative humidity of said second compartment to reach a predetermined level when said storage bag is maintained in a surrounding environment having a relative humidity that is lower than said relative humidity within said first compartment; and d. the moisture vapor transmission rate of said second outer panel being sufficient whereby said second compartment relative humidity is affected by said relative humidity of said surrounding environment, with said relative humidity of said second compartment being directly proportional to, but not equal to, said relative humidity of said surrounding environment when said storage bag is at equilibrium wherein said moisture vapor transmission rate of said inner panel and said second outer panel is in the range of about 0.3 to about 5.0 grams/mil/24 hours/100 square inches.
 31. The storage bag of claim 30, wherein said moisture vapor transmission rate of said inner panel and said second outer panel is in the range of about 0.8 to about 3.0 grams/mil/24 hours/100 square inches.
 32. The storage bag of claim 30, wherein said pad is made from a material that has been treated by an anti-microbial agent.
 33. The storage bag of claim 30, wherein said pad is covered in a hermetically sealed plastic enclosure.
 34. The storage bag of claim 30, wherein said pad is secured to one of said panels that form said first compartment.
 35. The storage bag of claim 30, wherein a portion of said seam forming said first compartment being open to create a first bag mouth and a portion of said seam forming said second compartment being open to create a second bag mouth.
 36. The storage bag of claim 35, wherein said seam forming said first compartment connects said first outer panel to said inner panel and said seam forming said second compartment connects said second outer panel to said inner panel.
 37. The storage bag of claim 35, wherein said seam forming said first compartment connects said first outer panel to said second outer panel and said seam forming said second compartment connects said second outer panel to said inner panel.
 38. The storage bag of claim 37, wherein a portion of at least one of said seams is formed from an integral fold.
 39. The storage bag of claim 30, wherein said pad is hydrated with water.
 40. The storage bag of claim 30, wherein said pad is substantially free of a salt solution.
 41. A storage bag in combination with a moisture emitting pad for humidifying products stored therein, said combination comprising:a bag constructed from polymer material forming a first compartment for storing a product therein and a second compartment storing a moisture emitting pad therein, said bag including an outer panel of polymer material separating said first compartment from the surrounding environment and an inner panel of polymer material separating said first compartment from said second compartment, said inner panel having a moisture vapor transmission rate relative to the moisture vapor transmission rate of said outer panel whereby the flow of moisture into said first compartment from said second compartment relative to the flow of moisture out of said first compartment into the surrounding environment maintains the relative humidity of said first compartment within a predetermined range higher than the relative humidity of the surrounding environment and lower than the relative humidity in said second compartment, wherein the moisture vapor transmission rate of said inner panel and said outer panel are in the range of about 0.3 to about 5.0 grams/mil/24 hours/100 square inches.
 42. The storage bag of claim 41, wherein the moisture vapor transmission rate of said inner panel is greater than the moisture vapor transmission rate of said outer panel.
 43. The storage bag of claim 41, wherein the moisture vapor transmission rate of said inner panel is equal to or less than the moisture vapor transmission rate of said outer panel.
 44. The storage bag of claim 41, wherein said pad is hydrated with water.
 45. The storage bag of claim 41, wherein said pad maintains a relative humidity in said second compartment greater than 95%.
 46. The storage bag of claim 41, wherein said inner panel and said outer panel have a thickness in the range of about 1-4 mils.
 47. The storage bag of claim 41, wherein said inner panel and said outer panel comprise a polymer film selected from the group consisting of polyvinylidene chloride, polyethylene, polyethylene copolymers (ethylene vinyl acetate), polyamide, polypropylene and composite layers thereof.
 48. The storage bag of claim 41, wherein said second compartment is hermetically sealed.
 49. The storage bag of claim 41, wherein said first compartment has an openable closure for hermetically sealing a product stored therein.
 50. The storage bag of claim 41, further including a second outer panel of polymer material separating said second compartment from the surrounding environment.
 51. The storage bag of claim 41, wherein said relative humidity of said first compartment is maintained in the range of about 62% to about 78%.
 52. The storage bag of claim 41, wherein the moisture vapor transmission rate of said inner panel is in the range of about 0.8 to 3.0 grams/mil/24 hours/100 square inches.
 53. The storage bag of claim 41, wherein the moisture vapor transmission rate of said outer panel is in the range of about 0.8 to 3.0 grams/mil/24 hours/100 square inches.
 54. The storage bag of claim 41, wherein the moisture transmission rate of said inner panel and said outer panel are about equal to each other whereby the relative humidity in said first compartment is maintained approximately at the mid point between the relative humidity of said first compartment and the surrounding environment.
 55. The storage bag of claim 41, wherein said pad is substantially free of a salt solution.
 56. The storage bag of claim 41, wherein said products comprise tobacco products within said first compartment.
 57. A storage bag in combination with a moisture emitting pad for humidifying products stored therein, comprising:a. a bag having a first outer panel, a second outer panel, and an inner panel therebetween constructed from plastic film, said panels being connected together by seams to form a storage bag with a first compartment and a second compartment; b. a moisture vapor emitting pad located in said first compartment; c. said inner panel and said second outer panel being formed from a plastic film having a moisture vapor transmission rate whereby the flow of moisture vapor out of said second compartment into the surrounding environment causes the relative humidity of said second compartment to reach a predetermined level when said storage bag is maintained in a surrounding environment having a relative humidity that is lower than said relative humidity within said first compartment; and d. the moisture vapor transmission rate of said second outer panel being sufficient whereby said second compartment relative humidity is affected by said relative humidity of said surrounding environment, with said relative humidity of said second compartment being directly proportional to, but not equal to, said relative humidity of said surrounding environment when said storage bag is at equilibrium, wherein said moisture vapor transmission rate of said inner panel and said second outer panel is in the range of about 0.8 to about 3.0 grams/mil/24 hours/100 square inches.
 58. The storage bag of claim 57, wherein said pad is secured to one of said panels that form said first compartment.
 59. The storage bag of claim 57, wherein a portion of said seam forming said first compartment being open to create a first bag mouth and a portion of said seam forming said second compartment being open to create a second bag mouth.
 60. The storage bag of claim 59, wherein said seam forming said first compartment connects said first outer panel to said inner panel and said seam forming said second compartment connects said second outer panel to said inner panel.
 61. The storage bag of claim 59, wherein said seam forming said first compartment connects said first outer panel to said second outer panel and said seam forming said second compartment connects said second outer panel to said inner panel.
 62. The storage bag of claim 61, wherein a portion of at least one of said seams is formed from an integral fold.
 63. A storage bag in combination with a moisture emitting pad for humidifying products stored therein, said combination comprising:a bag constructed from polymer material forming a first compartment for storing a product therein and a second compartment storing a moisture emitting pad therein, said bag including an outer panel of polymer material separating said first compartment from the surrounding environment and an inner panel of polymer material separating said first compartment from said second compartment, said inner panel having a moisture vapor transmission rate relative to the moisture vapor transmission rate of said outer panel whereby the flow of moisture into said first compartment from said second compartment relative to the flow of moisture out of said first compartment into the surrounding environment maintains the relative humidity of said first compartment within a predetermined range higher than the relative humidity of the surrounding environment and lower than the relative humidity in said second compartment, wherein said relative humidity of said first compartment is maintained in the range of about 62% to about 78%.
 64. The storage bag of claim 63, wherein the moisture vapor transmission rate of said inner panel is greater than the moisture vapor transmission rate of said outer panel.
 65. The storage bag of claim 63, wherein the moisture vapor transmission rate of said inner panel is equal to or less than the moisture vapor transmission rate of said outer panel.
 66. The storage bag of claim 63, wherein said pad maintains a relative humidity in said second compartment greater than 95%.
 67. The storage bag of claim 63, wherein said inner panel and said outer panel have a thickness in the range of about 1-4 mils.
 68. The storage bag of claim 63, wherein said inner panel and said outer panel comprise a polymer film selected from the group consisting of polyvinylidene chloride, polyethylene, polyethylene copolymers (ethylene vinyl acetate), polyamide, polypropylene and composite layers thereof.
 69. The storage bag of claim 63, wherein said first compartment has an openable closure for hermetically sealing a product stored therein.
 70. The storage bag of claim 63, further including a second outer panel of polymer material separating said second compartment from the surrounding environment.
 71. The storage bag of claim 63, wherein the moisture vapor transmission rate of said inner panel is in the range of about 0.8 to 3.0 grams/mil/24 hours/100 square inches.
 72. The storage bag of claim 65, wherein the moisture vapor transmission rate of said outer panel is in the range of about 0.8 to 3.0 grams/mil/24 hours/100 square inches.
 73. The storage bag of claim 63, wherein the moisture transmission rate of said inner panel and said outer panel are about equal to each other whereby the relative humidity in said first compartment is maintained approximately at the mid point between the relative humidity of said first compartment and the surrounding environment.
 74. The storage bag of claim 63, wherein said products comprise tobacco products within said first compartment.
 75. A storage bag in combination with a moisture emitting pad for humidifying products stored therein, said combination comprising:a bag constructed from polymer material forming a first compartment for storing a product therein and a second compartment storing a moisture emitting pad therein, said bag including an outer panel of polymer material separating said first compartment from the surrounding environment and an inner panel of polymer material separating said first compartment from said second compartment, said inner panel having a moisture vapor transmission rate relative to the moisture vapor transmission rate of said outer panel whereby the flow of moisture into said first compartment from said second compartment relative to the flow of moisture out of said first compartment into the surrounding environment maintains the relative humidity of said first compartment within a predetermined range higher than the relative humidity of the surrounding environment and lower than the relative humidity in said second compartment, wherein the moisture vapor transmission rate of said inner panel is in the range of about 0.8 to 3.0 grams/mil/24 hours/100 square inches.
 76. The storage bag of claim 75, wherein the moisture vapor transmission rate of said inner panel is greater than the moisture vapor transmission rate of said outer panel.
 77. The storage bag of claim 75, wherein the moisture vapor transmission rate of said inner panel is equal to or less than the moisture vapor transmission rate of said outer panel.
 78. The storage bag of claim 75, wherein said pad maintains a relative humidity in said second compartment greater than 95%.
 79. The storage bag of claim 75, wherein said inner panel and said outer panel have a thickness in the range of about 1-4 mils.
 80. The storage bag of claim 75, wherein said inner panel and said outer panel comprise a polymer film selected from the group consisting of polyvinylidene chloride, polyethylene, polyethylene copolymers (ethylene vinyl acetate), polyamide, polypropylene and composite layers thereof.
 81. The storage bag of claim 75, wherein said first compartment has an openable closure for hermetically sealing a product stored therein.
 82. The storage bag of claim 75, further including a second outer panel of polymer material separating said second compartment from the surrounding environment.
 83. The storage bag of claim 75, wherein the moisture vapor transmission rate of said outer panel is in the range of about 0.8 to 3.0 grams/mil/24 hours/100 square inches.
 84. The storage bag of claim 75, wherein the moisture transmission rate of said inner panel and said outer panel are about equal to each other whereby the relative humidity in said first compartment is maintained approximately at the mid point between the relative humidity of said first compartment and the surrounding environment.
 85. The storage bag of claim 75, wherein said products comprise tobacco products within said first compartment.
 86. A storage bag in combination with a moisture emitting pad for humidifying products stored therein, said combination comprising:a bag constructed from polymer material forming a first compartment for storing a product therein and a second compartment storing a moisture emitting pad therein, said bag including an outer panel of polymer material separating said first compartment from the surrounding environment and an inner panel of polymer material separating said first compartment from said second compartment, said inner panel having a moisture vapor transmission rate relative to the moisture vapor transmission rate of said outer panel whereby the flow of moisture into said first compartment from said second compartment relative to the flow of moisture out of said first compartment into the surrounding environment maintains the relative humidity of said first compartment within a predetermined range higher than the relative humidity of the surrounding environment and lower than the relative humidity in said second compartment, wherein the moisture vapor transmission rate of said outer panel is in the range of about 0.8 to 3.0 grams/mil/24 hours/100 square inches.
 87. The storage bag of claim 86, wherein the moisture vapor transmission rate of said inner panel is greater than the moisture vapor transmission rate of said outer panel.
 88. The storage bag of claim 86, wherein the moisture vapor transmission rate of said inner panel is equal to or less than the moisture vapor transmission rate of said outer panel.
 89. The storage bag of claim 86, wherein said pad maintains a relative humidity in said second compartment greater than 95%.
 90. The storage bag of claim 86, wherein said inner panel and said outer panel have a thickness in the range of about 1-4 mils.
 91. The storage bag of claim 86, wherein said inner panel and said outer panel comprise a polymer film selected from the group consisting of polyvinylidene chloride, polyethylene, polyethylene copolymers (ethylene vinyl acetate), polyamide, polypropylene and composite layers thereof.
 92. The storage bag of claim 86, wherein said first compartment has an openable closure for hermetically sealing a product stored therein.
 93. The storage bag of claim 86, further including a second outer panel of polymer material separating said second compartment from the surrounding environment.
 94. The storage bag of claim 86, wherein the moisture transmission rate of said inner panel and said outer panel are about equal to each other whereby the relative humidity in said first compartment is maintained approximately at the mid point between the relative humidity of said first compartment and the surrounding environment.
 95. The storage bag of claim 86, wherein said products comprise tobacco products within said first compartment. 